Abstract:
The study was undertaken to assess the feeding practices, anthropometric indices, vitamin A, zinc and iron status of under-five orphans living in Federal Capital Territory orphanages, Abuja. A cross sectional descriptive study was conducted using 200 orphans (96 males and 104 females) aged between 0-5 years living in ten orphanages. The subjects were purposively selected for the study and 20% of sub-sample was randomly selected for biochemical analysis and weighed food intake assessment. Haemoglobin (Hb) and serum ferritin were used to assess anaemia and iron status, respectively. Serum retinol was used to assess vitamin A status and serum zinc was used to assess zinc status. The subjects were screened for malaria parasites and worm infection to determine their possible impact on anaemia. C-reactive protein (CRP) was used as an indicator for inflammation. Anthropometric information was assessed using height, weight and mid upper arm circumference. Feeding practices and socioeconomic information were assessed using questionnaires. Dietary intake was determined using both food frequency questionnaire and weighed food intake techniques. The values obtained from nutrient intakes were compared with FAO/WHO recommended nutrients intake. Anaemia cut off was Hb < 11.0mg/dl, iron deficiency cut off was serum ferritin levels below 12ug/dl and serum retinol < 20µg/dl showed marginal vitamin A deficiency. Zinc deficiency was defined as a reading bellow 80µg/dl. There was high prevalence of zinc deficiency (60.0%) in relation to 30.0% of iron and 20.0% of vitamin A deficiencies among the under-five children. The prevalence of anaemia was 42.5%. The children met the mean daily energy, protein, calcium, iron, thiamin and riboflavin intake. Zinc, vitamin A, niacin and ascorbate were below the recommended allowance. When dietary iron, zinc and vitamin A intake were correlated with the biochemical status of the children, adequate dietary iron intake significantly (P<0.05) correlated with good ferritin and zinc status of the children. Inadequate dietary zinc intake was significant (P<0.05) and correlated with inadequate zinc and ferritin status of the children. Adequate dietary zinc intake was significant (P<0.05) with serum zinc status. Adequate dietary vitamin A intake reflected significantly (P<0.05) with serum retinol. Inadequate vitamin A intake significantly (P<0.05) correlated with serum zinc. The study recorded a low prevalence (7.5%) of inflammatory disorders. Malaria parasite and worm infestations were also low in the children (12.5% and 10.0%, respectively). Anaemia was significantly associated with helminthes infestation as well as malaria parasite. The study showed that the caregivers practiced a faulty feeding practice. The under-five children were feed infrequently as against the recommended frequency of meal feeds across various age groups. The children were not fed “responsively”. About 45.5% of the children were underweight. About 63.5% of the children were stunted and 47.5% were wasted. These deficiencies were associated with poor feeding practices, low caregiver to child ratio (1:5) and low socio-economic status. The study shows that protein energy malnutrition and micronutrient deficiency are still of public health important in Nigeria.
